“The key question here is not about the size of the station or its location in space – whether it is going to orbit the Earth or the Moon. The key question is about international cooperation. We need to understand who our partners are.

“All other questions are secondary.

“Clearly, Russia and China can build such stations, but this is not a question of technologies or finance. Russia solves secondary questions related to modules and their functions. I believe that Russia and China can be very good partners at this point.”

The move would be a a blow to diplomatic efforts in space.

The International System, in recent years, has been seen as a symbol of unity as well as a tool for science.

Its current crew members are made up of four Russians and two Americans.

Brit Major Tim Peake lived on the station between December 2015 and 2016, and is expected to return again.

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